Pirates rookie Cole Tucker hit the game-winning home run in his MLB debut

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PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Cole Tucker #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after hitting a two run home run for his first Major League hit in the fifth inning during the game against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Joe Panik #12 of the San Francisco Giants heads back to the dugout after lining out to Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning during the game at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Cole Tucker #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run home run for his first Major League hit in the fifth inning during the game against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Derek Holland #45 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Derek Holland #45 of the San Francisco Giants reacts as Jung Ho Kang #16 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Derek Holland #45 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20: Cole Tucker #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates stretches before making his Major League Debut in the game against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on April 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH — Pirates rookie Cole Tucker lived out a dream on Saturday at PNC Park. From the other side of the field, the Giants suffered through a nightmare.

With rain falling in Pittsburgh, Tucker launched a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth of his major league debut off Giants starter Derek Holland to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.

After Tucker emerged from the dugout for an epic curtain call following his first big league hit, Holland struck out Jung-ho Kang to end the inning. Holland’s 93-mile per hour fastball turned out to be the final pitch of a rain-shortened Giants loss.

“Congrats to him, first major league homer,” Holland said. “But it’s very upsetting. I felt like I was pitching a pretty good game into that and that’s the way it’s going to finish.”

With thunder and lightning expected to arrive in the Pittsburgh area on Saturday evening, the grounds crew at PNC Park pulled the tarp onto the field as the teams retreated to their respective clubhouses. The tarp was brought onto the field before it began to rain heavily, but manager Bruce Bochy said the Giants were told that lightning was too close to the park to continue play.

“They have a policy here if lightning gets within four miles, they tarp the field,” Bochy said. “The question was asked, but that’s their policy.”

The Giants and Pirates completed five innings in 92 minutes and likely could have continued if not for lightning, but a downpour eventually began and after a three-hour, eight-minute delay, the game was officially called.

Tucker’s home run spoiled an otherwise impressive day for Holland, who struck out seven and allowed just four hits in five innings. Despite giving up a 431-foot blast to Kang in the fourth and the 431-foot two-run shot to Tucker, Holland made only a handful of mistakes and showed an ability to locate his slider around the corners of the strike zone.

“He threw the ball really well,” Bochy said. “It’s a shame we lost that game. We tied it and then with two outs, the kid hits a home run. If it wasn’t for bad luck right now, we wouldn’t have any.”

The Giants’ offense didn’t do Holland many favors as the club recorded four hits in five innings against Pirates starter Jameson Taillon. Right fielder Steven Duggar prevented the Giants from being shut out with a two-out, RBI single in the top of the fifth to tie the game, but Gerardo Parra hit into a double play on a line drive that could have given the Giants the lead if it avoided Kang’s glove at third.

In the second inning, second baseman Joe Panik hit a 103-mile per hour line drive that likely would have brought home at least one run, but Pirates first baseman Josh Bell leaped to snag it out of the air.

“Panik smokes that ball and he’s probably the only first baseman tall enough to get it, but we’ve got to change it,” Bochy said. “That’s a tough one.”

Tucker wasn’t the only Pirates player to record his first major league hit Saturday as teammate and former Giants prospect Bryan Reynolds lined a 107-mile per hour single off Holland in the bottom of the fourth. Reynolds, the Giants’ 2016 second round draft choice, was traded to Pittsburgh in January, 2018 in the deal that sent Andrew McCutchen to San Francisco.

Before the umpires stopped play, Tucker indulged the Pirates fans by doffing his helmet, pounding his chest and reappearing outside the dugout following his home run. Some players may have taken issue with Tucker’s celebration, but Holland is not among them.

“I didn’t pay attention to it,” Holland said. “I was still throwing. I mean, I don’t have anything against a curtain call. The kid hit a homer. His first homer.”

Birthday blues

Brandon Belt celebrated his 31st birthday Saturday but the Giants first baseman hasn’t had many birthday performances to celebrate through the years. Belt went 0-for-2 against the Pirates and is now 0-for-14 with two strikeouts on his birthday in his career.

Black injured

Triple-A Sacramento River Cats pitcher Ray Black was evaluated by Dr. Ken Akizuki on Saturday and diagnosed with a pronator strain. The right-hander will be shut down for seven-to-10 days and then begin a throwing program to return to pitching.

Kerry Crowley is a multimedia beat reporter covering the San Francisco Giants. He spent his early days throwing curveballs in San Francisco’s youth leagues before studying journalism at Arizona State University. Kerry has covered every level of baseball, from local preps to the Cape Cod League, and is now on a quest to determine which Major League city serves the best cheeseburger.